Re-LAX-ing this summer in Seaford

Players participated in various drills at last week's camp in Seaford.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Alexandra Leggio, of Seaford, is a regular at the lacrosse clinic.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Dom Beltrami, of Seaford, attended the clinic for the first time.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Lacrosse Academy Assistant Director Ryan Kelly, left, and coach Connor Buckley, right, with the Seaford team during last week’s clinic at Seaman’s Neck Park.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Girls in the 5-year-old group learned basic stick-handling skills.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

The groups were created based on age and ability.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

Chris Wallace, of Seaford, was there to improve his lacrosse skills.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

More than 275 young lacrosse players attended the Town of Hempstead’s annual lacrosse clinic in Seaford last week.

This is the Town of Hempstead’s 11th year running lacrosse clinics, which are held throughout the town, moving to different locations during the summer. The Lacrosse Academy kicked off at Seaman’s Neck Park. The clinics are designed for children ages 5 to 15, and all skill levels are accepted.

Assistant Director Ryan Kelly has been involved with the program since it was created. “This is a great camp for lacrosse players of all ages and skill levels to come out, have fun, and improve their skills,” he said.

Kelly said all the instructors and staff members either currently or have in the past played or coached lacrosse. “The staff members are great,” he said. “We are a tight-knit community which helps keep everyone on the same page.” Kelly played as a defenseman at Garden City High School, and later at SUNY Oneonta.

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, who approved the creation of the Lacrosse Academy 11 years ago, said she is a big fan of the sport herself. According to Murray, the program has grown dramatically over the years. “In the first year, we were thrilled to have 300 participants in the entire program,” she said. “Now we have 275 in just today’s session,” adding that nearly 1,500 children will participate in the clinics throughout the summer.

Murray attributes the growth of the Lacrosse Academy not only to the nation wide growth of lacrosse, but also to the high-level coaching staff and the low cost. The camp is only $70 for a week.

Alexandra Leggio, 9, of Seaford, said she has been attending the lacrosse camps for five years. “I like the drills and the coaches,” she said. “When I was younger, they helped me improve my skills. Now going into sixth grade, I am very advanced.”

Leggio plays on a 91 girl’s lacrosse travel team and is also involved in the Seaford PAL program.

Jen Scaturro, director of women’s camp, has seen steady growth. “We get younger girls and see them grow through the years,” she said. “Girls’ lacrosse as a whole continues to grow.”